Morton Madness

So excited that Halloween was on a Friday this year!  We decided to make a block party out of it.  Blaine smoked a ton of meat on his new smoker and everyone brought a side to share.  We met for our annual picture across the street with Frankenstein and then ate some dinner then off to Trick or Treat! We decided to let Jonah go out Trick or Treating with his friends by himself this year.  One of them had a cell phone that made us feel a little better.  Then after Trick or Treating Jonah went to Chase's to spend the night.   About 9:00 Sophia decided she was D O N E!  She was so tired.  She asked for a hot bath so she could go get in bed.  I talked her out of the bath after some serious negotiating.  Yes, you read that right!  I, Alison Morton talked my child out of taking a bath, her feet even stunk SO BAD but momma was pooped!   The neighborhood gang annual picture! Tyson, Zion, Carter, Evan, Jonah, Chas...

So glad that Seth and Sophia had their Fall Party on different days this year!  Seth pretty much did not leave my side.  He would not get off of me and kept crying and saying, "go bye bye mommy truck".  I stayed through the party and told Mrs.  Emily that I was probably going to take him with me.  She said that he would be fine when I left and then I realized I would HAVE NEVER taken one of the other three home... what the heck was I thinking?  I had a list of things I needed to get done in the short amount of time I had after the party was over.   Sooooooo....  I LEFT HIM THERE!  He was crying along with about 7 others kiddos.  It broke my heart hearing him but as I finally got out of ear shot I was fine :)  When I went to pick him up they said he had a great day!  I am so glad I left him.   Sophia's party was Friday and for the FIRST time this school year I was NOT dressed... I was in...

I know, cry me a river!   Just want to blog this so we know where the heck all our money has gone! This has been since mid June: Microwave went out.  For those of you who know me well, cooking was over for me!  I was tired of hand washing pots and pans just from heating left overs.  We even had to pop corn on the stove!  Broke ground for the pool/outdoor kitchen. Two weeks later the garage door broke. September, Justin's transmission went out, can't remember if it was right before or after his Elk Hunt. Now here it is October, still hot outside and the bedroom AC goes out!   So, I should have had a clue.  I have been waking up a lot in the night because I was so hot.  Even Justin had kicked the covers off.  You know it's hot!  Then the thermostat somehow got on a "schedule".  In the 4.5 years we have been here it has NEVER been on a schedule.   We still don't know what all of that is about....

ARE WE DONE YET???  I know that come next summer it will be totally worth these horrible last few months.  Where do I even start?  They are still not even done with the "fix" problems.  IT IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT PEOPLE!  FIX IT and we just might stop bothering you! The water was put in the pool September 15th.  Here it is OCTOBER 28th and we have yet to get instructions on how to use the pool equipment and or check the water.   There is something that has not even been hooked up to the equipment that has been sitting out in the box getting rained on.   The retaining wall JUST got done last week. The leuder has not been replaced where they stuck a stone in the gap to close it. Need to replace the size of the fitting on the tanning ledge fountain so the spa fountain will spill right.   The kitchen is finally DONE and for the last two weeks we have been able to grill and smoke dinner. 

Seth has called Sophia "phia" ever since he started talking.  I love it.  Today in the car for the FIRST time he said, "Sophia".  My heart sank.  I have been trying to get him to say it but now that he has I want to take it back...  why?  This means my baby boy is growing up! 

Sophia sat down to make her Christmas List.   Anna Elsa Make up Jewelry

The kids couldn't wait to try their Halloween costumes on.  Seth took his off but wanted in the pictures... kind of.

The kids and I headed to Princeton for Harpers 4th birthday.  Aunt Karen and Uncle Don came in and the kids had a blast with all the animals.  Sophia would NOT go in with the animals until the last 15 minutes of the party and then cried when we had to leave.  Not sure how I did not get a pic of the birthday girl!

Justin, Dad and Nic headed to Kansas for a White Tail Deer Hunt.  This was Justin's second bow hunt and first deer hunt.  Justin conquered his fear of heights and climbed in the tree stand... he did get stuck between two trees!  The hunt was unsuccessful and no shots taken. If your wondering why all the selfies... he knows he better send momma some pics for the blog!  :)

The boys had their color run for the gold today!  It was hot and messy.  The kids had a blast getting the color on them.  Seth and I had to come home and shower and change clothes since we were covered too.  Time for the 5th Graders to run! They played Taylor Swifts Shake It Off  so the kids could get the loose powder off of them.   This was Jonah when he got home.  His scalp was COVERED with corn starch and color.  I helped him scrub his head in the shower three times to get this mess out.  

We fired up The Green Egg for the first time last night.  Justin and Darrin put it together Friday night.  Justin made 3 racks of ribs and they turned out great.  Kim, Eric, Shelly and Jeff came to eat with us. 

The neighborhood crew walking to school.

We headed out to Ft. Worth for Sean and Monica ' s 4th Annual Wurstzinski aka Sean ' s sausage fest.  They get different types of German sausage and German beer and we watch the Tech game.  They had a bounce house for the kids and they all bounced for 6 hours or more.  They all passed out on the way home... somehow,  The Hulk was the last one out.  and so... the tradition continues...  17 years now!